The Ruler's Rift

Quasi-Stellar Retribution Source

Joy swelled in the air. In the cold night, laughter and happiness flooded the makeshift streets. Children enjoyed treats prepared by the royal chefs, and adults leisurely admired Mystearlia's sights. Booths and merchants appealed to couples, offering all sorts of pleasant trinkets and souvenirs. Even the elderly had arrived to enjoy what may be their last Gala of The Promised. Many of them weren't convinced it would ever return after Violet's rule.

Delight and peace surrounded the planet as if it were a snow globe frozen in time, suspended forever in happiness. The comfort of the distant, looming palace added importance to the gala, and those present cherished the trilling laughter and the gentle breeze on their skin.

So, thunder came as all the more shocking.

Chatter and chuckles faded. Children looked up from their sweets. Parents separated their loving gazes to behold the clouds of nebulae which painted the heavens. Their beautiful colors did nothing to ease the shadow they cast or the thunder and lightning which crackled between them.

Pointing fingers ensued. Some raved over the beauty, but they quickly fell into panic as the nebula storm spread further. Then, screams erupted. Everyone saw it - they saw the glimpses of iridescent, black scales slithering through the starry clouds.

"What is that!?" Someone screamed, knees shaking.

"I've never seen a dragon that big!"

"Is that even a dragon? It's got no wings!"

As energy flashed like lightning between the smoke, the silhouette of the creature revealed itself. Serpentine, its tail was many times the length of its midsection and was tipped with long, flowing hair. The shadow of two huge horns adorned its head like a crown.

Then came the roar. It distorted the air and sounded like a hiss, a scream, and most importantly, a humming drone. Its cry resembled the pulse of space and the dying breath of a star. Everyone received it like tuning forks. Fear kept them planted in their place.

With that horrible sound, the dragon's head emerged from the nebula. Black as evil, heavily-armored, and with two cosmic, blue eyes, the head was only the start. Its body followed, and its clawed hands came into view. Then, its powerful legs emerged. Each foot bore a huge, scythe-shaped talon like that of a velociraptor. They glistened in the starlight.

Screams soared out of the people's mouths as the dragon flew lower and closer until it hung above them. Its coal-colored mane billowed, as did the fur of its tail. Between the hairs glimmered sparkles like miniature stars.

Parents hugged their children in the dragon's shadow. As it levitated, they hid beneath its black-and-white-striped underbelly and whispered prayers.

Some had already begun running, but they would find no mercy from this creature. Its long, whiplike tail smashed into the ground and threw snow and tents high into the night. Everyone shattered their fearful binds and bolted in whichever direction they could.

Another pulsating roar escaped the dragon's mouth, which glowed from within. Smoke slithered from its maw and nostrils as it made rubble out of tents and booths. People were caught in the destruction and batted around like ragdolls. One swipe from the dragon silenced screams and took life.

Several victims scrambled to call ships and help. Others managed to make distance. A few brave souls shot magic blasts at the otherworldly adversary.

Bolts of fire and water struck the dragon. The glow of magic revealed that the black scales on its body were smooth and reflective like those of a koi fish. Much spikier was the dragon's head, which turned in the direction of the pests who dared to attack. A terrible, bluish glow shimmered from its mouth - even its tongue was armored. Its distant, pupiless eyes stared down those so ignorant.

"Stay calm, stay calm...some cultures eat dragons!" One of the feeble mages panted.

The other commanded everyone else to run. Then he turned back to his partner. "This isn't a normal dragon," he rasped, shaking.

"We just have to hold it off until the queen saves us!" The first mage shouted as he threw another fireball. The flame struck the creature and did no damage, but had succeeded in bringing out the dragon's wrath.

Cyan light shimmered out as its mouth opened wide. With an atomic whirring, a miniature star was born between its jaws. Young and blue, it went through its life in mere seconds. It compressed until it turned black.

One more fireball hit the creature's head and altered its trajectory.

Every scream silenced as the dragon unleashed its attack. A blue relativistic jet issued from the quasar in its mouth - a breath mightier than any dragon's fire. The laser blasted into space, where it struck multiple stars in an instant. Though distant, their light brightened in the inky sky when they exploded.

Sound revived, and shrieking continued as the beam thinned out and the quasar died. The dragon puffed out excess stardust, then snarled at the mages who disturbed it.

Soon, emergency ships with teleportation drives warped onto the scene. They hurried to scoop up all survivors, and as they left the planet, the dragon launched another devastating roar as a final warning.

Quiet befell Mystearlia once again. All was as it should be.